Upright folding apparatus for clothing articles

ABSTRACT

A folding apparatus for textile goods having an upright frame, a pair of longitudinal side fold blades adapted for movement in a vertical plane within the frame towards each other, a longitudinal folding plate having a pair of folding plate members adapted for movement towards each other, a pair of transverse fold blades adapted for movement in a vertical plane and forming a rest surface for the folding plate members in a predetermined position, the transverse folding blades each having a front edge wherein the respective front edges of the transverse blades are facing each other, a counter support adapted for movement transversely and located between the front edges of the transverse fold blades, a transverse folding plate cooperating with the transverse fold blades and adapted for movement in a plane parallel with the plane of the longitudinal side folding blades.

[ Mar. 18, 1975 l UPRIGHT FOLDING APPARATUS FOR CLOTHING ARTICLESPrimary Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ernest F.Marmorek [57] ABSTRACT A folding apparatus for textile goods having anupright [76] Inventor: Conrad Arhter, Mittelweg l l/lO,

D874l Saal an der Saale, Germany frame, a pair of longitudinal side foldblades adapted r movement in a vertical plane within the frame towardseach other, a longitudinal folding plate having a pair of folding platemembers adapted for movement towards each other, a pair of transversefold blades adapted for movement in a vertical plane and forming facefor the folding plate members in a prethe transverse folding blades eachhaving a front edge wherein the respective front edges of the transverseblades are facing each other, a counter support adapted for movementtransversely and located between the front edges of the transverse foldblades, a transverse folding plate cooperating with the transverse foldblades and adapted for movement in a plane parallel with the plane ofthe longitudinal 18 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures 0 08 8 77 m 30 6 33 7 UNM 33 22 n nmvim 22 "1 6 a m .Mltlorsa I. n a 3 u a m mu t S m n n r Ymmm2l w7 N "m uh m 12 2 E H M m mml mm H m 0 0 m .3 4 P. m mu G mm 7 nHNHWQ S D 0 n mmm 5E w m mmm cT m 5 w w r HZ MA .m l l H e mmm rT. m v.PG R .mSFG a n. uuhl e I n m 66 0 w & I99 N E H NHH r5 .L 97 1. n D- 6 5m P m S M F A J U-mF W 88 ,4 1 111 1 an I 0 21 0 HQ MD 555 UPRIGHTFOLDING APPARATUS FOR CLOTHING ARTICLES FIELD OF THE INVENTION Thepresent invention relates to a folding arrangement for textile foldedarticles wherein the folding arrangement includes a plurality oflongitudinal and transverse folding arms operable in a controlled mannerand in a predetermined sequence and which also cooperates with a foldingplate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In connection with the folding of textilefolded materials several folding arrangements became known or have beenproposed in which a folding plate has associated therewith a pair oflongitudinal folding arms which are offset in height with respect toeach other and which are adapted to move towards each other. The articleunder folding is brought into the region of the folding instruments insuch a manner that its middle portion will lie under the folding platewhile its both side edge regions or portions will lieon the longitudinalside folding arms. The latter will perform one after the other operatingmovements directed toward each other and thereby will form a pair offolds by folding over two side edge regions one after the other. Thefolded article which became prefolded in such a manner from here bymeans of an intermediate conveyor will be moved into the region of asecond folding station which is arranged at a right angle with respectto the first folding station and is provided with a transverse foldingplate as well as transverse folding arms which are again disposedopposite with respect to each other in height and adapted to move towardeach other. Such folding instruments of the second station performduring the operation similarly like the instruments of the first foldingstation each a fold. The folded article which has become folded once onboth of its longitudinal and transverse sides becomes now moved by meansof a delivery conveyor to a stacking station.

The above-described known or proposed folding arrangements may have thedisadvantage that the article under the folding between the individualfolding steps must be transferred from one of the folding staions to thenext one by a conveyor means which is actuated in a controlled manner.For this reason, such folding apparatus are constructively verycomplicated and the article after the first folding step has beenperformed on it cannot be straightened out anymore, which fact, mayresult sometimes in insufficient folding accuracy.

After recognizing the above-noted disadvantages of known foldingarrangements, a folding arrangement has been proposed in which theintermediate conveying of the article has been eliminated andsimultaneously several folding instruments can be operated on thearticle. Such apparatus includes a pair of longitudinal side foldingarms which are offset with respect to each other in height and which aremovable towards each other, and which are in cooperation with alongitudinal side folding plate broken up into a pair of folding platemembers. Such folding plate members can be set in their operatingposition onto a pair of oppositely movable transverse folding plates orarms which in turn cooperate with a transverse folding platc movingparallel with respect to the direction of movement of the longitudinalside folding arms. As a result, the folding operation becomessubstantially accelerated and at the same time the accuracy of thefolding is increased. This lastmentioned folding apparatus is, however,adapted for the folding of horizontally lying articles. Such foldingapparatus could not be used at an advantage in the case of themanufacturing and the subsequent packaging of folded underwear orapparel since such articles between the last manufacturing step and thefirst folding step must undergo a visual quality control. In the evensuch final control in the course of which the front as well as the backside of the underwear or apparel must be thoroughly observed, would beattempted to be performed in such proposed apparatus before the firstfolding step, then the article which is to be folded and arriving in itsspread out position at a delivery table would have to be turned aroundbefore its insertion into the folding apparatus in such a manner thatits underside could be also observed. Only after the observation of thisunderside could the article become again fully spread out on thedelivery surface of the folding apparatus and passed into it.

A substantially simpler manipulation of the articles under folding couldbe had if the articles arriving in their horizontal position could bepassed on to the folding apparatus in a handing position and transferredin such position to the folding stations.

For the folding of clothing, a folding apparatus became known whichstarts with the clothing in its hanging state, however, such foldingapparatus is provided with folding flaps and folding plates whichcooperate therewith. In such apparatus the second folding step on anarticle could be commenced only then when the first folding step hasbeen performed by the instrument performing such folding steps and onlyafter such instruments at least partially perform their return movementleading to their rest position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the presentinvention to provide improved folding apparatus for articles made from aflexible textile material, especially clothing, in which, the abovenoteddisadvantages associated with intermediate movements and conveying ofthe articles are eliminated and which permits the operation of aplurality of folding instruments simultaneously on the article to befolded.

According to the present invention a folding apparatus is providedincluding a plurality of longitudinal and transverse fold armscooperating with each other and controlled in a predetermined sequence,such longitudinal and transverse fold arms cooperating with controlledfolding plates in such a manner that a pair of longitudinal side foldarms movable in a vertical plane has associated therewith a longitudinalfold plate subdivided into a pair of fold plate members movable oppositeto each other and thatthe longitudinal side fold arms also cooperatewith a pair of transverse fold arms which are movable in the verticaldirection between the longitudinal side fold arms and which form anabutting surface for the fold plate members, and wherein between thefront edges of the transverse fold arms a controlled and transverselymovable countersupport is provided for a transverse folding platemovable parallel with respect to the plane of movement of thelongitudinal side folding arms and cooperable with the transversefolding arms, and wherein further the countersupport and/or thetransverse folding arms are provided with retaining means for thearticles under folding.

In order to provide for a possible flat supporting, that is, countersupporting surface for the articles under folding when they are insertedinto the apparatus, the transverse fold arms and the counter support canbe brought into a verticle plane together with the longitudinal sidefold arms.

In order to provide for the possibly most perfect counter surface forthe article under folding. the transverse fold arms and the countersupport are arranged in such a manner that the space between the frontedges of the transverse fold arms when in the rest or inoperativeposition will correspond to the height of the counter support.

In order that already during the performing of the first transversefolding step the prefolded article could be simultaneously separatedfrom the counter support, the lower transverse folding arm is providedwith a substantially U-shaped cross-section, whereupon its side wallfacing the counter support is formed from a plurality of spaced rodswhich can be inserted into recesses formed in the counter support andwhich recesses run parallel with respect to their longitudinaldirection.

The prefolded articles simply can be taken over by the lower transversefold arm in that both side walls of the U-shaped transverse fold arm inits operating position will receive therebetween the transverse foldingplate.

For the transfer of the readily folded article after it has beenreceived and preformed by the lower transverse fold arm onto a deliveryconveyor delivering the article into a stacking station, the inventionprovides that the lower transverse fold arm is pivotably arranged abouta horizontal axle arranged in the region of its lower end and isprovided below such pivoting position with a conveyor means arrangedwith conveying elements that the transfer fold arm in its pivotedposition will protrude between such elements.

The controlling of thespread out or partially folded article on thecounter support or on the transverse fold arm and its holding thereon bysupporting means is solved by the present invention in that thesupporting means of the counter support and of the transverse foldingarm are in the form on each. of suction apertures communicating with asuction conduit in a controlled fashion.

In order that the articles under folding could be transferred into thefolding apparatus already outside of the folding station and that thefolding apparatus could be operated simultaneously by two persons, thepresent invention provides that the folding apparatus has associatedtherewith a hanger-type conveyor operating with clipping means and thedelivery plane of which runs between the plane of the longitudinal sidefolding members and the plane of the folding plate members in their restposition.

In the case of textile folded articles, especially in the case ofclothing articles having different sizes, it is frequently necessarythat they should be folded to a uniform final folded state. This can beachieved according to the present invention by that the vertical spacingbetween the clipping means of the conveyor with respect to the countersupport is adjustable.

In the event clothing articles are folded which have arms, it isnecessary that before the folding of the two longitudinal sides. thefreely hanging arms should be brought in final position on the remainingcenter portion of the article. This can be achieved according to thepresent invention in that the folding apparatus is provided on itslongitudinal side folding arms with an additional folding edge runningat an angle preferably of 45 with respect to the main folding edge andprotruding ahead of it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will become morereadily apparent from the following description of a preferredembodiment thereof shown, by way of example, in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the entire folding apparatus accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the folding apparatus according to the presentinvention illustrating the unfolded article with dashed lines;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the line III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the line IVIV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line \/V of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5, however, illustratingfolding arms after a transverse movement;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the folding apparatus accord ing to thepresent invention after the folding ofthe longitudinal sides has takenplace;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view along the line VIIIVIII in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view along the line IX-IX in FIG. 7 and after thelower transverse folding has taken place;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 8. however, illustrating theend of the entire folding process;

FIG. I] is a sectional view along the line XI-XI in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the counter support in its pivoted position;

FIG. 13 is a top view of FIG. I2;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view along the line XIV-XIV in FIG. 12; and

FIG. 15 is a further embodiment of the longitudinal side folding armaccording to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the figures,particularly to FIG. 1, it is seen that the articles to be folded areillustrated as being clothing articles which first must be foldedparallel with respect to their longitudinal sides and thereafterparallel with respect to their front or transverse sides. An article 1is illustrated with dashed lines in the folding station itself. Thefolding apparatus according to the present invention includes a framemeans 4 constructed from longitudinal bars or rods 2 and transverse rods3 on which a pair oflongitudinal side folding arms or blades 5 and 6 aresupported in a vertical plane and arranged for movement towards eachother to make the fold. The operating movement of the longitudinal sidefolding arms 5 and 6 is imparted by a pneumatic cylinder or a system ofpneumatic cylinders which are not illustrated and which are well knownin the art. Both longitudinal side folding blades or arms 5 and 6 as canbe seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 are arranged in such a manner that in theirrest or inoperative position the distance between their respectivefolding edges is only slightly larger than the dimension of thelongitudinal fold E a.

In the illustrated embodiment the two longitudinal sides of the article1 in order to simplify the illustration are shown to undergo a foldingwhich is smaller than the half of the longitudinal folding dimension Ea. The longitudinal side folding arms or blades 5 and 6 may be arrangedfor this reason in a common vertical plane. In the event the amount ofthe fold of the two longitudinal sides becomes larger than the half ofthe longitudinal folding dimension E a then the two longitudinal sidefolding blades 5 and 6 will be arranged in two vertical planes which aresideways, that is, in the direction of the transverse rods 3, offsetwith respect to each other by an amount corresponding to the thicknessof the longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6.

With the two longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6 a longitudinalside folding plate 7 cooperates and is arranged between them. The plate7 is subdivided into a pair offolding plate members 8 and 9 which areadapted to be moved opposite to each other. The width of the foldingplate members 8 and 9 corresponds to the longitudinal folding dimensionE 11, and they are mounted in the frame means 4 in a manner allowing fortheir longitudinal movement occurring in a vertical plane between anoperating and a rest position, also a movement transversely directed tothe last-mentioned movement and for a purpose hereinafter described.Both types of operating movements of the plate members 8 and 9 arecontrolled by pneumatic cylinders which are not illustrated, however,which are well known in the art. The plate members 8 and 9 in their restposition are found in a plane, as seen in FIG. I, which is transversewith respect to the plane of the longitudinal side folding blades 5 and6.

Behind the plane of the two folding plate members 8 and 9 there arearranged a pair oftransverse fold members or blades I and II whichcooperate with a common transverse folding plate 12. The transverse foldblades I0 and II are arranged in such a manner that their supporting orreceiving surface facing the folding article I lies in the initialposition of the transverse fold blades 10 and 11 in the same plane asthe longitudinal side folding blades and 6. The upper as well as thelower transverse fold blades I0 and II are provided each with vacuumopenings I3 and I5, respectively, which are controllably connected witha suction conduit. The transverse fold blades It] and 11 serve duringthe formation of the longitudinal fold as the counter support for thefolding plate members 8 and 9 and for a purpose hereinafter described inmore detail are adapted additionally to their operating movementoccurring in the vertical direction running transverse to theiroperating movement. The drive of the transverse fold blades and 11 isaffected also by means of a pneumatic cylinder means not illustrated inthe drawing. The transverse fold blades 10 and 11 are arranged in such amanner that the distance between their facing front edges is slightlylarger than the transverse folding dimension E u of the article I andwhich in turn also corresponds to the width ofthe transversc fold plate12 as seen in FIG. 2.

While the upper transverse fold blade 10 is formed as a blade slidablewithin the frame means 4, the lower transverse fold blade 11, on theother hand, has a U- shaped cross-sectional area. The side wall 14facing the article 1, that is, also the longitudinal side folding blades5 and 6, is provided with vacuum apertures I5 which are connectable in acontrolled fashion to a suction conduit. The side wall 14 forms anuniterrupted surface. The side wall of the blade II which is facing awayor lying opposite to the article I and also to the longitudinal sidefolding blades 5 and 6 is made up from a plurality of rods 16 which arespaced with respect to each other and which in the region of their lowerend are coupled with the other side wall I4 as can be seen in FIGS. 9and 10. In the region of its lower end the transverse fold blade II iscoupled with a horizontally lying axle I7 journaled in the frame means 4as shown in FIGS. 9, l0 and I2 and performs at the end of the foldingprocess a pivoting movement about the axle 17 as illustrated in FIG. 12,to deliver the readily folded article I to a removing conveyor ashereinafter described.

The transverse fold plate 12 cooperating with the transverse fold bladesI0 and 11 is mounted in the frame means 4 in a fashion enabling itssliding in a horisontal plane. It is driven in its operating movementalso by a pneumatic cylinder which is not illustrated in the drawing.With respect to its vertical positioning within the apparatus, thetransverse fold plate I2 is arranged in such a manner that it can bemoved within the region lying between the front edges of the transversefold blades 10 and 11 and the width of such counter support 18substantially corresponds to the longitudinal folding dimension E a, andthe height of it corresponds to the distance between the front edges ofthe transverse fold blades 10 and 1].

The counter support 18 is provided with a plurality of recesses I9running along its longitudinal direction and the number of whichcorresponds to the number of the rods 16 ofthe transverse folding blade1]. Such recesses I9 during the formation of the lower transverse foldin the article 1 receive the rods 16. In its region the counter support18 between the recesses 19 is provided with a plurality of vacuumapertures 20 which are controllably connectable to a suction conduit andwhich before and during the folding process serve to retain the articleI. The counter support 18 is mounted for slidable movement in the frame4 by a guiding arrangement running transversely with respect to theplane of the transverse folding plate 12. The counter support 18 isarranged in such a manner that in its rest position the supporting planeon which the article I will lie corresponds to the plane of thelongitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6. The transverse movement of thecounter support 18 is controlled by a pneumatic cylinder not shown inthe drawing.

In order that the articles I to be folded may be transferred into thefolding direction already outside of the folding station itself, thefolding apparatus according to the present invention provides for aconveyor means 21 which is running around it in a horizontal plane andwhich is provided at predetermined distances with a plurality ofgripping means 22 for receiving the articles I to be transmitted for thefolding. Such gripping means 22 can be in the form of known clips whichcan be arrested either in their open or in their closed position by, forexample, magnetic inserts.

As can be seen, especially in FIG. I, the conveyor means 21 which isdriven by a motor not illustrated in the drawing is guided by four guiderollers 23 arranged in a horizontal plane about the folding apparatusand which are in turn supported in a carrying frame means 24. The framemeans 24 is held by a plurality of carrier suspender means 25 arrangedon the frame 4 and each of which is supported on a vertically adjustablethreaded rod or spindle 26, thereby being vertically adjustable. Attheir upper end each of the spindles 26 is provided with a driving wheel27. The driving wheels 27 are coupled with each other by means of achain or toothed belt 28 so that when a motor 29 produces a rotarymovement, such movement is transmitted by a belt 30 to one of thedriving wheels 27 and simultaneously to all four spindles 26. As aresult, all the carriers 25 can be synchronously moved up or down, asmay be desired during the folding process as hereinafter described.

By changing the vertical position of the conveyor means 21, the distancebetween the clipping means 22 holding the articles 1 and the effectivefolding edges of the transverse folding plate 12 is changed. As aresult, irrespective of any change in the initial size of the articlesl, for example. due to size changes of the articles 1, the foldingdimension E u remains always constant and by changing the distancebetween the lower and upper limiting edges of the article 1 with respectto the folding edges of the transverse folding plate 12, the length ofthe region which is to be folded over in the article 1 willcorrespondingly change.

The delivery plane or level of the conveyor means 21 as can be seen alsoin FIG. 1 is selected in such a man ner that the articles I to be foldedare guided between the longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6 lying ina vertical plane and the folding plate members 8 and 9 which lie infront of such plane. In order to provide for an adjustment of thedelivery plane, the carriers 25 which protrude into the carrying frame24 can be adjusted in such a manner that the entire conveyor means 21can be shifted with respect to the plane of the longitudinal sidefolding blades 5 and 6. More specifically, this can be done by makingthe recesses for the carriers 25 on the carrier frame 24 somewhat largerthan the width of the carriers 25 so that the entire carrying frame 24in addition to the formerly described vertical movement thereof can bealso adjusted to a desired extent also in a horizontal plane, that is,in the general vertical plane of the apparatus. As a result, thedistance or plane of the clipping menas 22 with respect to the plane ofthe longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6 is adjustable. it is alsonoted that the carrying frame 24 can be also provided with meansarresting it in any adjusted position.

In order that the readily folded article 1 may be ,removed from thelower transverse folding blade 11, the invention provides for a conveyormeans arranged sideways with respect to the axle 17 of the transversefolding blade [1 in the form of a removing conveyor means 31 as can beseen in FIGS. 12 and 13. Such conveyor means 31 in addition to itsdrive, not shown, includes conveyor belts 33 which are guided with adistance between each other by means of guide rollers 32 and which inthe pivoted down position of the transverse folding blade 11 protrudebetween the 1'. cls 16 thereof and deliver the article 1 to a stackingstation following the conveyor means 31. In 0| in to secure the articles1 from the sides the invention provides guide surfaces 34 along theouter conveyor belts 33 which prevent a falling off or loosening up ofthe folds.

The operation of the folding apparatus according to the presentinvention is as follows:

'It is assumed that all the folding instruments are in their initialposition and an article 1 to be folded has been brought by the clips 22of the conveyor means 21 to the folding station. As can be seen in FIG.1, both longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6 assume a position whichis sideways with respect to the folding plate members 8 and 9 of thelongitudinal folding plate 7 The folding plate members 8 and 9 are intheir initial plane which lies in front of the plane of the longitudinalside folding blades 5 and 6 and now their front edges facing each otherhave a distance which permits the insertion of a fold insert ifnecessary. In the illustrated embodiment, the distance between thefrontal edges of the folding plate members 8 and 9 correspondsapproximately to the folding dimension E u, so that the folding insertwill retain its maximum dimensions. Both transverse folding blades 10and 11 are in their rest position in a plane which is transverse withrespect to both longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6 and in thisposition the distance between their facing frontal edges corresponds tothe width of the counter support 18. The abutting or supporting surfaceof the counter support 18 which it provides for the article 1 is now ina plane defined by the longitudinal side fold blades 5 and 6. Thetransverse folding plate 12 is in its initial position shown in FIGS. 2and 4 in which it is lying in a vertical plane closely adjacent andbefore the plane of the longitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6.

The article 1 carried by the clips 22 is delivered by the conveyor means21 into the region of the folding instruments. As mentioned above, thedelivery plane lies between the plane of the folding plate members 8 and9 and the plane of the longitudinal side fold blades 5 and 6 as well asthat of the transverse folding blades 10 and 11 and that of the countersupporting surface 18. Such arrangement of the delivery plane is anassurance of the proper delivery of the article 1 in its spread outstate. The conveyor means 21 is subsequently stopped so that the article1 will assume a position which is symmetrical with respect to thefolding plate members 8 and 9. At this point the two clips 22 supportingthe article 1 are sideways of the folding plate members 8 and 9 and,consequently are also sideways with respect to the upper transversefolding blade 10. Now the suction devices and the associated vacuumapertures l3 and 15 of the transverse folding blades 10 and 11 as wellas the suction apertures 20 of the counter surface 18 are actuated bybeing coupled to their respective suction conduits, so that the regionof the article 1 which lies against the transverse folding blades 10 and11 and against the counter support 18 is safely retained as can be seenin FIGS. 35. The clips 22 are opened automatically or, if preferred,manually, and are transported away from the region of longitudinal sidefolding blades 5 and 6. In the event a fold insert must also be foldedtogether into the fold. then such insert is laid on the counter supportsurface 18 and by means of the action of the suction openings 20 it isalso sucked onto such surface. Now both of the transverse fold blades 10and 11 and also the counter support 18 perform a transversely directedmovement with respect to the plane of the longitudinal side foldingblades 5 and 6. As a result, they are guided out of the plane of thelongitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6 into a plane which lies behindtheir plane. The folding plate members 8 and 9 of the longitudinal sidefolding plate 7 perform a movement directed toward the transverse foldblades and 11 and come to rest on the transverse fold blades 10 and 11.As a result, the article 1 will as sume the position indicated in FIG.6, in which its middle region is located between the transverse foldblades 10 and 11 and the folding plate members 8 and 9, while both ofits side regions will lie on the longitudinal side fold blades 5 and 6.The latter will perform their movement directed towards each other andfold the edge regions of the article 1 over the vertically directedfolding edges of the folding plate members 8 and 9. While thelongitudinal side folding blades 5 and 6 return into their initialposition. the transverse folding plate 12 will perform a shovingmovement in the horizontal direction and come to rest before the countersupport 18 as can be seen in H6. 7. The movement of the transversefolding plate 12 in relation to the movement of the longitudinal sidefolding blades 5 and 6 is controlled in such a manner that thetransverse folding plate 12 in the region of the counter support 18 willtake over already the additional care of the just performed fold whenthe two longitudinal side fold blades 5 and 6 are still resting on theside edge regions of the article 1. Simultaneously the counter support18 performs a movement transversely to the plane of the longitudinalside folding blades 5 and 6 and opposite to its first movement and willpress at the end of such movement the region of the article 1 which lieson it against the transverse folding plate 12.

While the folding plate member 8 is returned downwardly into its initialposition, the lower transverse fold blade 11 commences correspondinglyto the movement of the counter support 18 to move transversely to suchan extent with respect to its subsequent eventual operating movementuntil its rods 16 will be located below the recesses 19 of the countersupport 18. During the next upwardly and vertically directed operatingmovement of the transverse fold blade 11 its rods 16 will engage therecesses 19 of the counter support 18 while the front edge of its frontside wall 14 shove the article 1 over the lower horizontally runningfolding edge of the transverse fold plate 12.

At the end of the operating stroke or movement of the lower transversefold blade 11 it will assume the position illustrated in FIG. 9 in whichthe transverse fold plate 12 will be located between the front side wall14 of the blade 11 and between the rods 16 thereof which are nowcompletely registering with the recesses 19 of the counter support 18.After shutting off the suction openings 20 ofthe counter support 18 fromthe associated suction conduit, then only the upper region of thearticle 1, will rest on the upper transverse fold blades 10, while theremaining region of the article 1 will be entirely within the profile ofthe lower transverse fold blade 11, the suction apertures of whichbecome now also shut off from the associated suction conduit.

The upper transverse fold blade 10 commences its movement as can be seenin FIG. 9 moving to the left and then downwardly and will shove, whilethe upper fold blade member 9 is returning upwardly into is initialposition. the upper region of the article 1 over the upper folding edgeof the transverse fold plate 12 as well as over the upper edge the frontside wall 14 of the lower transverse fold blade 11. The article 1 at theend of the entire folding process will assume the position illustratedin FIG. 10 in which the originally upper region of the article 1 will belocated between the upper transverse fold blade 10 and the side wall 14of the lower transverse fold blade 11, and the remaining regions of thearticle 1 are still retained in the transverse fold blade 11.

While the upper transverse fold blade 10 is moving back upwardly intoits initial position, the lower transverse fold blade 11 will moveupward to an extent until its rods 16 will be located outside of therecesses 19 of the counter support 18. The transverse fold blade 11becomes now pivoted downward in a clockwise direction about its axle 17,as can be seen in FIG. 12, until its rods 16 will be located below theplane of the delivery belts 33 of the conveyor 31 which then willdeliver away the readily folded article 1 from the transverse fold blade11 to a subsequently located stacking position, The transverse foldblade 11 which is pivoted downward is directly followed by guidesurfaces 34 which with their upper and also with their side walls willassure a reliable retention of the completed fold.

In the heretofore described embodiments of the present invention.clothing articles were the subject of the folding operation which had noarms or sleeves. 1n the event clothing articles are to be folded whichhave arms or sleeves, then the arrangement according to FIG. 15 is to beused. Here both longitudinal side fold blades 50 and 60 are provided ontheir facing folding edges with projections which run at an acute anglewith respect to the main folding edges 51 and 61 and form additionalfolding edges 52 and 62 serving to fold the arms or sleeves of theclothing articles.

In the latter embodiment the clothing articles are delivered by theconveyor 21 hanging from the clips 22 similarly to the embodimentdescribed in connection with FIG. 1 into the region of the foldinginstruments and by means of suction apertures l3, l5 and 20 provided inthe transverse fold blades 10 and 11 as well as in the counter support18, become held. In the subsequently ensuing operating movement of thelongitudi nal side folding blades 50 and 60 which perform movementssimilar to the operating movements of the longitudinal side foldingblades 5 and 6 toward each other, the additionally provided foldingedges 52 and 62 now come upon the freely hanging arms or sleeves of theclothing article 1 and before the formation of the first fold will laythem onto the remaining portion of the clothing article 1. The effect ofthe suction apertures l3, l5 and 20 is regulated in such a manner thatthe partially overlapping arm portions or sleeves will be sucked againstthe transverse folding blades 10 and 1] as well as against the countersupport 18 while the remaining folding steps are performed similarly asdescribed in connection with the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-14.

Since in the latter embodiment the additional folding edges 52 and 62are preferably directed at an angle of 45, they at least partiallyoverlap in the end position of the longitudinal side folding blades 50and 60, therefore, it is preferred according to the present invention ifthe longitudinal side folding blades 50 and 60 are arranged in twovertical planes which are sideways offset with respect to each other. Asa result, the insertion of the article 1 is easier when the longitudinalside folding blade 60 is arranged as the front one and the longitudinalside folding blade 50 is arranged as the back one of the two planes.

l wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described, for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tobe secured by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. A folding apparatus for textile goods comprising an upright framemeans, a pair of longitudinal side fold blade means for movement in avertical plane within said frame means towards each other, alongitudinal folding plate means comprising a pair of folding platemembers adapted for movement towards each other. a pair of transversefold blade means adapted for movement in a vertical plane and forming arest surface for said folding plate members in a predetermined position,said transverse folding blade means each comprising a front edge whereinthe respective front edges of the transverse blade means are facing eachother, a counter support means adapted for movement transversely andlocated between said front edges of said transverse fold blade means, atransverse folding plate means cooperating with said transverse foldblade means and adapted for movement in a plane parallel with the planeof the said longitudinal side fold blade means.

2. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said countersupport means comprises pneumatic means for retaining the article to befolded thereon in a predetermined phase of the folding operation.

3. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pneumaticsupport means of said counter support means are selectively connectableto suction conduits.

4. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transversefolding blade means are provided with pneumatic supporting means forretaining a protion of said article to be folded during a predeterminedphase of the folding operation.

5. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said pneumaticsupporting means of said transverse fold blade means are selectivelyconnectable to a suction conduit.

6. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transversefolding blade means and said counter support means are adapted to bemoved into a plane transverse with respect to the longitudinal sidefolding blade means.

7. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spacingbetween said front of edges of said transverse folding blade meanscorresponds to the width of the said counter support means.

8. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of saidtransverse folding blade means is mounted lower in the verticaldirection with respect to said other folding blade means and is providedwith a substantially U-shaped cross-section having a pair of side walls,one of said side walls facing said counter support means comprises aplurality of rod means spaced with respect to each other, said countersupport comprising a plurality of recesses running parallel with thelongitudinal direction of said counter support, said rod means beingadapted to register with said recesses in a predetermined position ofsaid transverse folding blade means.

9. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said transversefolding plate means is adapted to be received between said side walls ofsaid U-shaped transverse folding blade means in the actuated positionthereof.

10. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said lowertransverse folding blade means comprises an axle at the lower endportion thereof, means for pivoting said lower transverse fold blademeans about said axle. a conveyor means located adjacent said lowertransverse fold blade means in the pivoted position thereof, saidconveyor means comprising conveyor belt means, said belt means beingspaced with respect to each other and said rod means of said lowertransverse fold means in the pivoted position thereof registering saidrod means with the spacings between said delivery belt means of theconveyor means.

11. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said foldingapparatus comprises a frame means, means on said frame means forsupporting said conveyor means, means for vertically adjusting saidsupporting means whereby said articles can be deliv ered to said foldingstation at a predetermined vertical position.

12. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said verticaladjusting means comprises threaded bar means.

13. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in cluding means foradjusting said conveyor means transversely with respect to the generalvertical plane ofsaid upright apparatus, whereby the vertical deliveryplane of the articles can be shifted transversely.

14. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1. including a conveyormeans adapted to run about said folding apparatus and comprising clipmeans adapted to deliver the clothing articles into a plane lyingbetween the plane of the longitudinal side folding blade means and theplane of said folding plate members in their rest position.

15. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the deliveryplane of said conveyor means delivers the clothing articles in a hangingposition into said plane, said delivery plane of said conveyor meansbeing adjustable with respect to the plane of said longi tudinal sidefolding blade means.

16. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 14, including means foradjusting said clip means of said conveyor means in their verticalposition with respect to said counter support.

17. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 14, including guide rollermeans for guiding said conveyor means about said frame means.

18. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidlongitudinal side folding blade means comprises each additional foldingedge means directed at an acute angle toward each other, said acuteaangle being formed with each of the main folding edges of saidlongitudinal side folding blade means, said additional folding edgemeans being adapted to perform folding of arms or sleeves on saidclothing articles.

1. A folding apparatus for textile goods comprising an upright framemeans, a pair of longitudinal side fold blade means for movement in avertical plane within said frame means towards each other, alongitudinal folding plate means comprising a pair of folding platemembers adapted for movement towards each other, a pair of transversefold blade means adapted for movement in a vertical plane and forming arest surface for said folding plate members in a predetermined position,said transverse folding blade means each comprising a front edge whereinthe respective front edges of the transverse blade means are facing eachother, a counter support means adapted for movement transversely andlocated between said front edges of said transverse fold blade means, atransverse folding plate means cooperating with said transverse foldblade means and adapted for movement in a plane parallel with the planeof the said longitudinal side fold blade means.
 2. The folding apparatusas claimed in claim 1, wherein said counter support means comprisespneumatic means for retaining the article to be folded thereon in apredetermined phase of the folding operation.
 3. The folding apparatusas claimed in claim 2, wherein said pneumatic support means of saidcounter support means are selectively connectable to suction conduits.4. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transversefolding blade means are provided with pneumatic supporting means forretaining a protion of said article to be folded during a predeterminedphase of the folding operation.
 5. The folding apparatus as claimed inclaim 4, wherein said pneumatic supporting means of said transverse foldblade means are selectively connectable to a suction conduit.
 6. Thefolding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transverse foldingblade means and said counter support means are adapted to be moved intoa plane transverse with respect to the longitudinal side folding blademeans.
 7. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein thespacing between said front of edges of said transverse folding blademeans corresponds to the width of the said counter support means.
 8. Thefolding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said transversefolding blade means is mounted lower in the vertical direction withrespect to said other folding blade means and is provided with asubstantially U-shaped cross-section having a pair of side walls, one ofsaid side walls facing said counter support means comprises a pluralityof rod means spaced with respect to each other, said counter supportcomprising a plurality of recesses running parallel with thelongitudinal direction of said counter support, said rod means beingadapted to register with said recesses in a predetermined position ofsaid transverse folding blade means.
 9. The folding apparatus as claimedin claim 8, wherein said transverse folding plate means is adapted to bereceived between said side walls of said U-shaped transverse foldingblade means in the actuated position thereof.
 10. The folding apparatusas claimed in claim 8, wherein said lower transverse folding blade meanscomprises an axle at the lower end portion thereof, means for pivotingsaid lower transverse fold blade means about said axle, a conveyor meanslocated adjacent said lower transverse fold blade means in the pivotedposition thereof, said conveyor means comprising conveyor belt means,said belt means being spaced with respect to each other and said rodmeans of said lower transverse fold means in the pivoted positionthereof registering said rod means with the spacings between saiddelivery belt means of the conveyor means.
 11. The folding apparatus asclaimed in claim 10, wherein said folding apparatus compriSes a framemeans, means on said frame means for supporting said conveyor means,means for vertically adjusting said supporting means whereby saidarticles can be delivered to said folding station at a predeterminedvertical position.
 12. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 11,wherein said vertical adjusting means comprises threaded bar means. 13.The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 11, including means foradjusting said conveyor means transversely with respect to the generalvertical plane of said upright apparatus, whereby the vertical deliveryplane of the articles can be shifted transversely.
 14. The foldingapparatus as claimed in claim 1, including a conveyor means adapted torun about said folding apparatus and comprising clip means adapted todeliver the clothing articles into a plane lying between the plane ofthe longitudinal side folding blade means and the plane of said foldingplate members in their rest position.
 15. The folding apparatus asclaimed in claim 14, wherein the delivery plane of said conveyor meansdelivers the clothing articles in a hanging position into said plane,said delivery plane of said conveyor means being adjustable with respectto the plane of said longitudinal side folding blade means.
 16. Thefolding apparatus as claimed in claim 14, including means for adjustingsaid clip means of said conveyor means in their vertical position withrespect to said counter support.
 17. The folding apparatus as claimed inclaim 14, including guide roller means for guiding said conveyor meansabout said frame means.
 18. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein said longitudinal side folding blade means comprises eachadditional folding edge means directed at an acute angle toward eachother, said acute aangle being formed with each of the main foldingedges of said longitudinal side folding blade means, said additionalfolding edge means being adapted to perform folding of arms or sleeveson said clothing articles.